Guwahati: In response to the escalating heat and soaring temperatures, all schools in Kamrup (Metro) district, which includes Guwahati city, have been ordered to close for four days from 24th to 27th September 2024. The decision was made by the District Elementary Education Officer (DEEO) after multiple reports of students falling ill and fainting due to excessive heat and dehydration.
An official statement from the DEEO on Monday confirmed the closure, citing concerns over the rising temperatures and the increasing number of health-related incidents in schools. “All government, provincialised, and private schools under Kamrup Metro district are to remain closed from 24th to 27th September 2024 due to excessive heat and rising temperatures,” read the order.
The decision comes after Guwahati recorded a maximum temperature of 37.9°C on Sunday, which was 5.9°C above the normal range. The minimum temperature was also recorded at 28.2°C, 3.8°C higher than usual. The authorities have expressed concerns about the impact of such extreme weather on students’ health.
The DEEO stated that the closure is a precautionary measure to protect students from the adverse effects of prolonged exposure to the high temperatures. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has predicted cloudy weather with the possibility of occasional rain or thundershowers in Guwahati over the next two to three days.
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Earlier, several districts in Assam, including Kamrup Metropolitan, Cachar, and Barpeta, had adjusted school hours to cope with the intense heat. Schools were advised to start earlier and end sooner to avoid the peak heat of the day. A DEEO order issued on 20th September outlined these adjustments and provided guidelines for schools to follow.
Last Friday, the Assam government also introduced new guidelines aimed at protecting students’ health amid the ongoing heatwave. The guidelines included changes in school hours and other measures to ensure the well-being of students in this heatwave-like situation gripping the state.
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